Archive for Public Relations

Advertisement Ideas: Changing On The Fly!!!

Today’s entry is inspired by Walk Out On Cancer Day. I went to The Starbucks on University Drive North of Oakland Park Boulevard at 12 PM expecting many of my fellow Relay For Life Participants to join me in walking out on cancer, however it turned out I was the only one who showed up. I decided to walk out and collect donations. As a result I stopped into Hooters and The GM said I could collect in the restaurant so I did. This small change really got me to thinking about how many times you have to make changes and adapt to the situation at hand in you business life and personal life. In business things happen that we can not control thus we must be able to think outside the box and change on the fly. In every situation there is a positive solution if you think creatively as was the case was today. I wanted people to join me but they didn’t so I simply went an walked out on cancer on my own and found people to put donations into the collection canister. As I walked I stopped at local businesses along the way and gave them brochures some fundraising fliers. I began to implement my 3 foot rule where if someone was within 3 feet of me I spoke to them about what I was doing. This type of advertising and marketing led to many people making a $1 or $5 donation. It also led me to making a contact with a photographer and videographer that could utilize my talents as an emcee, voice over talent, or business coach. In aligning yourself with a charity you can open many doors to help your business. In being willing to change on the fly and adapt and overcome you will see that you have more success.

When a plan doesn’t go as we had hoped it is time to step back take a deep breath and alter the original plan so that we move in a positive direction of the desired outcome. Today my goal was to promote the importance of what The American Cancer Society does with a group of people and when I was the only one I changed the plan on the fly and created a result that in the end I was satisfied with as I chose to focus on the positive. In life as in business we have choices we can get upset and make excuses or we can overcome and adapt and take action. It is important to plan your work and work your plan and make adjustments along the way. In business it is imperative to have a solid advertising, marketing, public relations, and community relations strategy that builds brand recognition that will lead to increased revenues. Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Management Gone Mad!!!

About two weeks ago I went to my laundry and while I was doing my laundry I stopped by a store in the plaza, Past, Present, Future which sells comic books and collectibles as well as soda and snacks. While I went to purchase a soda and snacks I mentioned to the manager that I am involved with The American Cancer Society Relay For Life and that our theme was Superheroes For The Cure and that my team Lederman’s Heroes Walking in Memory of JDOGG’S Mom had chosen Shazam. Instead of taking this as an opportunity to possibly make a sale he told me we don’t need your solicitation I was like wow every business can use additional sales. I then did my best to give the store some added value by making a Facebook Live Video to which the manager said that the owner doesn’t allow for that and that if I didn’t stop the video he would call the police. I stopped the video and deleted it off my Facebook page. As a past retail store manager who drove sales by being kind and caring in all interactions and acting on what were buying signals such as someone telling me some information I increased sales. When I first started working in Retail for Oaktree, a men’s clothing store I rose to be the #1 sales person in the company by engaging customers and assessing their needs so I know what it takes to build sales and customer relationships. I can fully understand that the manager gets solicited many times during the day however each solicitation is an opportunity for it is not about the solicitor but who the solicitor can reach. In my case I have over 1900 Twitter Followers, over 2900 friends on Facebook, and over 1400 followers on Instagram. So think about it had I had a good experience with this manager I would not have been writing this piece about the negative experience and exposing this negative experience to my followers rather I would have been encouraging people to shop at the store.

Don’t allow a bad manager to stifle your business. Over the 40 years that I have been involved with public and private for profit and non-profit businesses I have encountered many great managers who understand that one oh crap can ruin a 1000 of at a boys. Remember it is human nature for people to remember the bad and share as opposed to sharing the good. The key is to make sure that your management team is creating an environment that is welcoming because that solicitor today could be a buyer in the future or that solicitor may have a very large reach and instead of getting a good review you end up featured in his blog and on his radio show. The key is to understand that you never know who is coming through your door and how they can be of value and service to you.

When you are open to all that you come in contact with and you find ways that you can be of service and value to one another that is when you succeed.

Imagine if the manager would have taken my interest in Shazam as a buying signal and shown me merchandise relating to Shazam how the interaction could have went. I may not have bought the item that day but would know that it was available and come back for it. I have always believed that a no today is really a no for right now. I have many success stories of working the floor of a retail store and making sales because I picked up on buying signals and interacted with the customer. One day I was working at a retail sport apparel and memorabilia shop when a customer came in seeking a gift for his wife who was a Buffalo Bills fan and he was looking for a tee-shirt I didn’t have any Buffalo Bills Ladies shirts but instead of saying we didn’t have any I showed him a signed Jim Kelly Football and a Framed Jim Kelly signed picture. he Bought the Jim Kelly signed picture so instead of selling him a $28 shirt I upped the sale and sold him a $250 framed piece. In getting to know what the customer wants and interacting with them you increase your sales. The key is to understand that everyone who walks into your retail location can benefit you in some way. It is when you look for opportunities that you avoid management from going bad. Remember it has nothing to do with the economy or the industry it has everything to do with your attitude.

Advertisement Ideas: Walk In Your Truth!!!

Over the last few days I have observed many people professing that they are making six figures and when I asked them for donations to help support the efforts to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays they made every excuse as to why they were unable to donate. This really had me thinking so you want me to join your organization and market your product and services but you can’t donate to a cause that is near and dear to me. It was at this time that i realized when marketing to people you must walk in your truth and be passionate about your belief and purpose. When you market your products or services or ask for support of your charitable endeavors people must be able to know you, like you, and trust you. In all interactions it is important to walk in your truth and be honest and up front with people. I have witnessed so many people trying to be something they are not or making claims that they can not back up that they have stiff;ed themselves from growing personally and professionally. The key in business is to be your authentic self and make sure that in all your marketing people are seeing your authentic self and not some facade. The idea of faking it until you make it doesn’t work as people will see right through that. It is important in business to be authentic and to follow the four agreements.

So many people make promises and then do not keep them and then wonder why their business is struggling. I have experienced people saying one thing to you and then doing the complete opposite and then pointing the finger at you. When this happens I step into my power and walk in my truth and say thank you and then I think too bad so sad don’t let the door hit you where GOD split you. If you are preaching about walking your talk you better be taking the action to back it up. If you are talking about marketing and advertising you should be marketing and advertising. Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Forget The President!!!

I have learned over the years that in business it is important to leave politics at the door if you are going to succeed because when you engage in a political discussion it can go bad real fast and adversely affect your business. In today’s marketplace with the advent of social media it is important to forget the president and simply go about your business planning your work and working your plan making adjustments along the way. In the scheme of your day-to-day operations who the president is should not have an effect on your ability to market and attract new customers while also retaining your existing customer base. I have seen many businesses over the last 16 years suffer because they didn’t forget the president and as a result left money on the table or lost money. Such was the case for a local restaurant who is a staunch supporter of The Republican Party a large group from The Democratic Party was going to book an event at the restaurant however when they saw the photos of the republicans from the area on display they went elsewhere. I share this so as to remind you that many times your political views can hit you the hardest in the wallet for you never know why someone may choose to do business or not to choose to do business with you.

The key to remember when you are implementing a marketing campaign is to leave your politics aside and forget the president. I have witnessed so many people making political posts on social media when they should have been making posts about who they are and what they do and why you should do business with them. The way you choose to advertise is up to you however remember many potential clients/customers and many existing clients/customers read your social media posts and may be swayed not to do business with you because you have a different view than they do. You may think this is trite however people today are so wrapped in their ego that if they feel you bruised their ego they will look elsewhere to get products and services. The key is to forget about who the president is and to continue to strengthen your brand and increase your revenue by acquiring and retaining customers/clients. Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Important P Words!!!

When you decide to open your business the most important p word that you need to have in you vocabulary is profit. When you open your business you must have a goal in mind as to how much profit you want to make so that you can take action to exceed this goal with the idea of utilizing other important p words.

People is a very important p word for you will need to reach the people in your desired target audience and have them do business with you. Remember people do business with those they know, like, and trust. In giving people what they desire and building awareness of your products and services you will increase your profits. You may have need to hire people and hiring the right people who are in alignment with your core values will lead you to having success when it comes to customer acquisition and retention. Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Prioritize This!!!

When you opened your business today what were your priorities? Did you write down your priorities and make sure they were in sync with your goals and objectives? So many times when working with entrepreneurs I find that many do not set priorities and thus continue to be on this endless hamster wheel that creates a struggle. The end result of this struggle is that they fail to thrive and eventually close their business. I always ask people who I work with what did you do to promote your business today? Many times the answer is nothing people will come because they are in the plaza anyway or they are by where we are located and will see us and come in out of curiosity. I give the people I work with the strategy to do out reach to potential customers daily while also having a retention program to keep existing customers. I have worked for people over the last 40 years and I have seen that the successful ones are innovative and seek to stay ahead of the curve while those who close up their business get set in their ways and are closed-minded. I have also found that many business owners do not get out of their own way and as a result they believe they know everything. I was told by a very prominent business coach, Bert Oliva, that “The Day You Think You Know Everything Is The Day You Start To Lose Everything,” this is so true as you begin to alienate those that truly want to help you. What are your priorities today? How do these priorities fit with the over all core model for your business? Are you listening to the people working with you? Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Wake Up And Be Open To Receive!!!

This entry was inspired by my recent foray back into to The Sports Apparel and Memorabilia Business. I worked with two companies that had the potential to be million dollar sales companies and grow. Unfortunately at one company there was an owner who thought he knew more than everyone else and at the other there was a manager that would tell you why things couldn’t work. One of the aspects of business that I have learned over the years is to always get input from your employees especially from those that are very knowledgeable about the industry. I have worked with several people to help them excel and those who listened to my input and took positive action have found success. I believe if you are going to make a profit in any business you must know the business and be in tune with all the current trends in the business. I have also learned that you must be true and authentic when dealing with people. The reason that you may be holding onto to merchandise is that you have items that are not in demand or that you are not marketing properly or that your staff is not engaging the customer.

When an employee comes to you in your sports business and says there is a growing trend toward throwback jerseys you should look into that and have a plan of action to carry the jerseys that people are looking for not jersey that you ordered at the end of the season that people aren’t looking for at that time. The key is to be open to receive new ideas and to implement them with a solid marketing plan. It was funny because one of the places decided to spend $2000 on plaques that had already been in the hands of two other companies that didn’t sell instead of taking the $2000 and buying up to date in demand merchandise. Imagine had the owner taken the $2000 and bought some popular throwback jerseys and advertised in the community that they had the jerseys what might have been. He chose not to do this and is still sitting on cases of plaques that are taking up space and not moving. Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Get Out!!!

When was the last time you got up and went outside of your business to promote your business? I have spoken to many business owners about the importance of putting yourself out there and meeting people as you never know who you might meet and how they can be of service and value to you or how you can be of service and value to them. Sometimes the best promotion is self promotion.

I was out doing a Facebook Live video on January 18, 2017 in front of The Local Subway when a couple Audrey and Rich from Bold Venture Press approached me about this book. We had a great interaction and the next day Audrey surprised me with a post in my Get Motivated With Jonathan JDOGG Lederman group on Facebook stating that on February 4, 2017 during the book launch that they were going to donate a portion of the royalties to The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sunrise/Tamarac. By getting out in the community and being vocal about who I am and what I do I was able to further my mission to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. I was also able to make a key contact to secure guests for my radio show, Get Motivated With JDOGG, which airs at www.blogtalkradio.com/jdoggsshow on Monday at 5:30 PM EST. Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Getting High!!!

If you want to get high in business you must commit to working hard and maximizing your message. If you want high revenue and high brand recognition you must have a strategic plan that defines what type of business you are going to have, who your target audience is going to be, and how you are going to cultivate that target audience. In today’s business world the sole-proprietor is the underdog and thus has to work that much higher having a definitive vision for their business so as to get a percentage of the niche market that will create sustainability. As you continue to open the doors to your sole proprietorship it is important that you are listening to those you have hired as some of those people may have ideas that increase sales and also increase brand recognition. It is important to check your EGO at the door and realize that you may not know everything and the day you think you know everything is the day you lose everything. Make sure you know the demographics of the area you decide to do business in so that you can have the merchandise that they desire. Make sure you know the competition that is around you so that you can create your own unique selling proposition to attract and keep customers.

When I was a member of The Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) we had what we called a Chairman’s Planning Guide which was really a small business plan that served as a road map so you could have a successful project.It asked what the primary purpose of the project was, what the goals and objectives were, who was responsible for certain tasks, the budget, and the items needed to bring the project to fruition. It also asked questions as to things that could have been done differently and what changes you would make. Many people used the CPG to secure small business loans and continued to plan their work and work their plan making adjustments that they now have thriving businesses. It is imperative to plan your work and work your plan. Read More→

Advertisement Ideas: Being Open To Change!!!

In the business environment that is ever evolving we as business leaders must be open to change. As we all know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In my 40 years of working on special events, helping business owners to excel, and fundraising I have recognized so many people who were not willing to make changes or listen to alternatives. These people kept struggling and many went out of business. I have witnessed many a successful entrepreneur or marketing executive gather input from employees and put some of the ideas into action and as a result they have had success as their revenue went up and their brand recognition increased. I have come to realize that when someone is not willing to make changes or listen to ideas that have their best interest in mind you simply have to let go and let GOD knowing you did the best you could to improve their business. In recognizing that changes must be made to create a viable business you will grow your business.

Sometimes in order to make a positive change you must look at the person in the mirror and realize that you may be part of the problem. The first step to solving a problem is recognizing that you have one. In recognizing the flaws that have created the issues you can work on eliminating the flaws and thus grow your business. I have stated it many times that the day you think you know everything is the day you start to lose everything. If you continue to point fingers and blame everyone else eventually your business will be so flawed that you either close it or change your ways and improve it. When evaluating your business you must look at problem areas and make a change. Read More→